How to Repair a Ceramic Tile Floor

You can replace a damaged ceramic tile with a few tools and a little time.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Grout Sealer
• Work Gloves
• Work Gloves
• Adhesives
• Large Sponge
• Notched Trowel Or Putty Knives
• Tile Grout
• Large Sponge
• Awl
• Chisels
• Common Nails Or Screws
• Hammers
• Safety Glasses
• Awl
• Safety Glasses
• Hammers

1. Take a trip to your local flooring supply center, lumberyard or home improvement center to find tile to match and replace damaged or missing tile. It's easiest if you can take part or all of a loose tile with you.

2. Pick up some adhesive and grout mix (some come premixed) to complement the job while at the supplier.

3. Remove old grout from around the damaged tile with an awl or chisel, being careful not to damage the surrounding tiles.

4. Chip out the old tile, one very small piece at a time, with a hammer and chisel.

5. Scrape old adhesive and grout from the floor. This will take some time, but remember: The cleaner and smoother the subsurface, the longer the new tile will stay in place.

6. Make sure the floor beneath the tile is structurally sound. Squeaks can indicate flexing in the floor, which can cause the tile to pop loose. Correct any squeaks or obviously loose flooring by adding extra nails or screws through the sheeting into the floor joists below.

7. Spread adhesive onto the back of the new tile with a notched trowel or putty knife.

8. Press the tile firmly into place. Let the adhesive dry before continuing.

9. Grout around the new tile. Sponge excess grout and smooth joints.

10. Let the grout set for 15 minutes.

11. Wipe off excess grout.

12. Let the tile dry for 24 hours. Grout can now be coated with clear waterproof grout sealer, which helps to prevent staining, mildew and rot.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear safety glasses.
• Make sure to clean up any excess grout and any filmy residue from the tile before it dries.
• When you first install new tile, it's a good idea to purchase a few extra tiles so the color will match if you have to replace broken ones.

[Gailfriend]

on 10/24/2007 I stupidly tried to clean my entryway tile flooring with clorox solution (something had leaked there that was gross) and it ate the surface of the tile! Now it has this big white space with jagged edges on the tile. Any ideas for repair? I am trying to sell my condo in a horrible market LOL

on 1/30/2006 If there is a crack in the underlayment (concrete or other) beneath you tile, the crack may transmit into the tile above it. The frustrating result is that you may replace the tile as often as you like, but the crack will re-appear soon after.

The fix is to thoroughly scrape, clean, and dry the area of the crack in the underlayment, then apply a full width of masking or other tape directly over the cracked area. (I use duct tape) Then reset your tile in the usual way.

I learned this trick from an old-time tilesetter, and it has worked like a charm every time I've used it.

on 11/22/2005 First, pour slightly diluted floor cleaning solution on your floor. Use a plastic angled brush or broom and sweep the floor with the cleaning solution. I then use my Hoover floor cleaner that has rotating brushes to clean, and to pick up all of the dirty water. Sweeping is the secret to a really clean floor.

on 11/22/2005 When setting grout, allow 72 hrs for it to dry fully. However, you don't want it to dry too rapidly, so 24 hrs after you set it, spray it lightly w/water. Do the same after another 24 hrs. On the 3rd day, seal your grout. This will keep it from cracking.

on 11/22/2005 Clean tile thoroughly to cut build-up, lightly sand surface. With a grout knife, remove top surface, wash down to remove debris. Dry well. Paint with shellac-base primer (BIN for example). Then apply epoxy paint with a small sponge roll.